Ionocidium orchid plant named ‘Haruri’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Ionocidium  orchid plant named ‘Haruri’ particularly characterized by a labellum that changes color from yellow to purple during the flowering period. Its horticultural traits further include highly irregular flowering, high productivity rate, and rapid growth in addition to economical propagation via tissue culture and vegetative division.

Genus/species: Ionocidium spp.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of orchidplant, botanically known as Ionocidium and referred to by the cultivarname ‘Haruri’. The genus Ionocidium is a member of the familyOrchidaceae. ‘Haruri’ is characterized by its attractive and uniquelabellum which is yellow at the beginning of flowering, but in about oneweek becomes purple (RHS purple group, but a pinkish color). The newcultivar originated from a hybridization made in a controlled breedingprogram in Hiroshima, Japan in 1995. Haruri resulted from a crossbetween Ionopsis utricularioides and Oncidium flexuosum. Approximately300 seedlings were produced from the hybridization in November 1996.‘Haruri’ was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross during the flowering period from December1997 to May 1998 in Hiroshima, Japan.

The new cultivar is a perennial and an epiphytic plant. It is used asflowering potted-plants for the home and interiorscape and to furnishcut flowers. ‘Haruri’ produces compound racemes with many showy flowerswhich open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The time offlowering is irregular with the flowering period being about 2 months.The flowers possess three sepals and 2 lateral petals. The modifiedabaxial petal of the flower, called the labellum, is yellow in color atthe beginning of flowering, but as the days pass it undergoes a massivechange and becomes purple. At the base of the labellum there is somesesamoid purple-red variegation, but this color does not change. Yellowcallus is attached to the base of the labellum. The color of the lateralpetals and sepals does not change. The plant grows fast and understandard growing methods, it requires 1 to 1.5 years after plantinguntil flowering.

The new orchid cultivar ‘Haruri’ is different from commerciallyavailable orchids of the same type such as Oncidium flexuosum andOncidium ‘Gower Ramsey’. Comparison testing has established thefollowing differences between the ‘Haruri’ and Oncidium flexuosum:

-   -   1. The labellum of ‘Haruri’ changes color from yellow to purple        after flowering compared to the labellum of Oncidium flexuosum        which remains yellow and does not change color.    -   2. ‘Haruri’ has more flowers per inflorescence than Oncidium        flexuosum.    -   3. The stem of Oncidium flexuosum is brown, whereas that of        ‘Haruri’ is green.    -   4. The upper leaf surface of ‘Haruri’ is deep green unlike the        whitish green upper surface of Oncidium flexuosum.

The following differences were observed between ‘Haruri’ and Oncidium‘Gower Ramsey’:

-   -   1. The labellum of Oncidium ‘Gower Ramsey’ remains yellow and        does not change, whereas the labellum of ‘Haruri’ changes after        flowering.    -   2. The inflorescence width of ‘Haruri’ is approximately half        that of Oncidium ‘Gower Ramsey’.    -   3. The leaf length of ‘Haruri’ is approximately one third that        of Oncidium ‘Gower Ramsey’.    -   4. The leaf of ‘Haruri’ is narrower and thinner than that of        Oncidium ‘Gower Ramsey’.    -   5. Oncidium ‘Gower Ramsey’ mainly flowers in autumn, whereas        ‘Haruri’ flowers irregularly.

General observations: Leaves are fleshy and fast growing compared withother crosses between Ionopsis utricularioides and Oncidium flexuosum.The plant has a high productivity rate. One pseudobulb sometimes grows 5stems. Flowering is highly irregular, and when the flowering periodfinishes, the plant immediately grows a new pseudobulb and flowers abouthalf a year later.

The first successful asexual reproduction of ‘Haruri’ was performed byuse of mericlones. This propagation took place in Hiroshima, Japan inDecember 1999. The characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Haruri’ arefirmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to bebasic characteristics of ‘Haruri’ which in combination distinguish thisorchid as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Labellum which changes color from yellow to purple after        flowering.    -   2. Inflorescence is a compound raceme.    -   3. Time of flowering is highly irregular.    -   4. Plant has high productivity rate with as many as 5 stems        growing from one pseudobulb at times.    -   4. Stems sometimes emerge from the top end of the pseudobulb.    -   5. Stems generally grow at an angle upward from the base of the        pseudobulb.    -   6. Plant grows fast and period of cultivation can be reduced.    -   7. Plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using        tissue culture (micropropagation) or vegetative division.

The new cultivar's flowers chang color with variations in temperature.‘Haruri’ gains color at night in low temperatures. The lower thetemperature, within a range of 5° C. to 15° C., the darker the purplecolor becomes. If the temperature is greater than 15° C., it becomeslight purple. Coloring is also affected by ultraviolet (UV) radiation.In the presence of a large amount of shade, the flowers do not gaincolor. In a greenhouse covered with a UV reduction film, they becomelight purple; even in lower temperatures the reduction of UV radiationmakes it difficult for the flowers to acquire color. The plant is suitedfor cultivation within a temperature range of 15° C. to 20° C.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical plant and flowercharacteristics of ‘Haruri’ with colors being as true as is resonablypossible in photographs of this character.

FIG. 1 shows a full size view of an entire plant of the new variety oforchid.

FIG. 2 shows the general appearance of typical a inflorescence.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the flower showing the yellow colorationwhich appears at the beginning of flowering.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of the flower showing the purple colorationwhich appears at the later stage of flowering.

FIG. 5 shows a close-up view of the foliage and roots.

FIG. 6 shows a close-up view showing the characteristics of the leaf.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart. The color values weredetermined at about 4:00 p.m. on Jun. 14, 2004, under 10,000 lux naturallight in a glasshouse at Gunma, Japan.

The following observations and measurements describe plants grown inJapan under conditions which approximate those generally used incommercial practice. The age of the observed plant, used to determinethe characteristics described herein, was approximately 20 months fromplanting.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Genus/species.—Ionocidium hybrid cv. ‘Haruri’.-   Origin: Seedling from a cross between Ionopsis utriculariodes and    Oncidium flexuosum.-   Plant:    -   -   Propagation.—Asexual propagation by tissue culture or            division.        -   Mature plant size.—Approximately 40 to 60 cm (from the soil            surface to the tip of the inflorescence) in height and width            of 40 to 60 cm. Under appropriate growing conditions, plants            (stocks) obtain a mature size of approximately 10 to 18 cm            in height and approximately 18 to 25 cm in width. Stocks            smaller than this can still be made to flower.        -   Growth habit description.—Flowers appear when the pseudobulb            reaches maturity. It flowers irregularly, basically twice a            year. Roots rot easily if there is constant moisture in the            pot.        -   Vigor.—Strong.-   Stem:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 30 to 50 cm long from the stem base to            the tip of the inflorescence and 13 to 18 cm long from the            stem base to the base of the inflorescence.        -   Diameter.—4.0 to 4.5 mm in diameter at the stem base nearest            to the pseudobulb, 2.0 to 3.0 mm near the base of the            inflorescence, and 1.5 mm near the tip.        -   Color of stem base.—RHS 137B (green).        -   Color of stem apex.—RHS 143B (green).-   Leaves:    -   -   Quantity.—Usually 5 leaves are produced per pseudobulb.        -   Leaf length.—9 to 15 cm.        -   Leaf width.—2 to 4 cm.        -   Leaf thickness.—1.0 to 1.4 mm.        -   Shape.—Broad linear with an unequal obtuse apex.        -   Arrangement.—Alternate phyllotaxis.        -   Color of upper leaf surface.—RHS 137B (green). Color is the            same at the base, apex and margin.        -   Color of lower leaf surface.—RHS 143A (green). Color is the            same at the base, apex and margin.        -   Leaf blade.—The leaf blade is glossy and fleshy. The veins            stand out from the leaf surface, forming thin lines parallel            to the midribs. The leaf margin curls backward to a certain            extent. Slight undulations can be seen on the leaves. Under            conditions of strong light, the leaves change to a reddish            brown color.-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower color.—The labellum is RHS 2C (yellow) at the            beginning of flowering, but in about one week becomes RHS            75B (purple). Sesamoid RHS 72A (red-purple) variegation            appears at the base of the labellum, and does not change            color. The sepals and lateral petals do not change in color.        -   Number of inflorescences.—2 to 5.        -   Inflorescence description.—Compound raceme combining 2 to 4            racemes. Approximately 15 to 30 cm long (from base to tip)            and 15 to 30 cm wide (maximum width).        -   Flowers per stem (per inflorescence).—40 to 70.        -   Petals ( lateral petals).—Petal number: 2. Petal shape: The            petals are lanceolate oblong in shape with mucronate apex.            Petal length: 7 to 9 mm. Petal width: 3.5 to 4.5 mm. Petal            color: Upper surface: The ground color is RHS 76C (purple)            with sesamoid variegation of RHS 77A (purple). Lower            surface: The ground color is RHS 76B (purple) with sesamoid            variegation of RHS 77A (purple).        -   Sepals.—Sepal number: 3. Sepal shape: lanceolate oblong with            (Apex: Dorsal: Mucronate; Lateral: Obtuse.). Sepal length: 4            to 8 mm. Sepal width: Dorsal: 3 to 5 mm; Lateral: 2.5 to            4.0 mm. Sepal color: Upper surface: RHS 76C (purple) with            sesamoid variegation of RHS 77A (purple). Lower surface: RHS            76B (purple) with sesamoid variegation of RHS 77A (purple).        -   Labellum.—The labellum extends in a heart shape with            symmetrical left and right sides from the base where the            callus is attached.        -   Labellum width.—18 to 22 mm in a completely extended state.        -   Labellum length.—18 to 20 mm including the base.        -   Labellum color.—Early flowering period: Upper labellum            surface: RHS 2C (yellow). Sesamoid variegation RHS 72A            (red-purple) appears at the base of the labellum. Lower            labellum surface: RHS 4D (yellow) with fine lines of RHS 64D            (red-purple variegation). Late flowering period: Upper            labellum surface: RHS 75C (purple). A gradation of of RHS            N78B (purple) appears spreading out from the base of the            labellum. Lower labellum surface: RHS 76C (purple) with a            small amount of RHS N78B (purple) gradation appearing around            the base.        -   Raceme dimension.—The raceme is approximately 5 to 20 cm            from base to tip, and 5 to 7 cm in diameter at the midpoint.        -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected approximately            12 to 18 months after planting a plant with a maximum leaf            size of 5 to 7 cm in length and 2 to 3 cm in width.            Flowering period is approximately 2 months.        -   Lastingness of flowers.—3 weeks on plants cultivated for 12            to 18 months; 10 to 14 days in summer and 20 to 30 days in            winter.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Reproductive organs.—All reproductive organs are united into            a single short structure called the column. Styles are            absent. Column: Approximately 2 mm long and 2 mm wide. Color            is RHS 145C (yellow-green) during the early flowering period            and RHS 138C (green) in the late flowering period. Stigma:            Stigmas are part of the column. Pollinia: Two, 0.4 mm in            size, obovate in shape and RHS 12A (yellow) in color. Ovary:            The ovary is present below the calyx and is RHS 144A            (yellow-green) when not fertilized. It is 6 to 8 mm long and            approximately 1.2 mm in diameter at the thickest part near            the calyx. Pedicel: Approximatley 10 to 14 cm long and 0.8            mm in diameter, RHS 149D (yellow-green) in color.-   Roots: Since the stock grows gradually in an upward direction, the    roots appear outside of the soil. One pseudobulb initiates about 10    to 20 roots, and these divide into branches.    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.8 mm at the base nearest to the            pseudobulb and 0.5 mm at the apex.        -   Root color.—Above ground: RHS 192C (gray-green). After            watering: RHS 144B (yellow-green) immediately after            watering. Underground: RHS 155C (white). Roots become RHS            158B (yellow-white) immediately after watering. Root apex            color: RHS 144C (yellow-green).-   Growing conditions: The plant should be grown at 15 to 20° C. for 4    to 6 months after planting. Thereafter, for 6 to 12 months, the    plant should be grown in a greenhouse at 10 to 15° C. to enable    flowering. It takes approximately 2 weeks for plants growing in    tissue culture to initiate roots.-   Plant disease resistance/susceptibility: Under conditions of too    much water, a variety of diseases have been observed. Soft rot    symptoms due to Pseudomonas bacteria appear. In addition, during the    flowering period, spots appear on the petals due to Botrytis    bacteria.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ionocidium orchid plant named‘Haruri’, as illustrated and described.